The Role of Interprofessional Education in Training Healthcare Providers for Integrated Healthcare: A Scoping Review

Background: Longer lifespans and living with multiple chronic conditions are driving necessary change in healthcare systems. There is an increasing shift towards team-based integrated care, to provide person-centred care that is accessible, continuous, and of high quality. Health professional roles are changing rapidly; traditional educational approaches no longer suffice. New models of care require new models of learning – from a focus on workforce planning for professionals to workforce planning for patients and populations. The World Health Organization and the Institute of Medicine acknowledge that preparation of the healthcare workforce has not kept pace with these changes. Interprofessional education (IPE) and professional development training that includes partnering with patients, providers, and communities are identified as key solutions. However, understanding how IPE supports workforce development for integrated care remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to answer the question: What is the role of IPE in training healthcare professionals to work in integrated care? The focus of this review was on post-licensure health care professionals (HCPs) in the current workforce versus preparation of students in academic settings.